Illini Sports

Three weeks ago, Ryan Schmidt was a college basketball manager starting the second semester of his senior year. Now, he's all the talk at the University of Illinois after joining the active roster — what he's called "a great experience."

It’s two hours before Illinois’ Saturday afternoon game with Penn State on Jan. 31 is set to tip off, when close to 15,000 fans will fill the seats at State Farm Center. Right now, there are about 15 people in the arena bowl, freshman forward Michael Finke among them.

Top Sports

Are the Illini still on the NCAA tournament bubble? Will they make a postseason run? Roger Powell Jr. and Jack Ingram were on hand for Saturday night's romp against Northwestern. Bob Asmussen caught up with both former Illini.

When the cheers went up for Illinois’ 2005 NCAA runners-up Saturday, were you among those wondering why that marvelous 37-2 run wasn’t extended? We are, even today, caught up with the idea that a magical surge would mean better recruits and more Illini championships.